MARQUETTE, Mich. - Sarah Newcomer scored a career-high 23 points on Saturday in the PEIF Gym and the Wildcats held SVSU to just 12-47 (25.5%) shooting as NMU claimed a commanding 65-41 victory over the Cardinals. 

Newcomer shot an impressive 9-12 (75.0%) from the floor and 5-7 (71.4%) from three. She bested her previous career high of 20 points, recorded last season against Ferris State.

On top of the lockdown defensive effort, the Wildcats forced the Cardinals into 17 turnovers, leading to a dominant 26-4 edge in points off turnovers.  

The Wildcats won the game in the second and third quarters, outscoring Saginaw Valley 46-18 in the middle two frames. The Green and Gold nearly led wire-to-wire, holding the edge for 72.5% of the contest. In total, NMU shot 22-50 (44.0%) from the field and 8-16 (50.0%) from downtown. The 'Cats controlled the glass with a 37-29 margin. 

With the victory, the 'Cats go on to 6-3 on the season with a 2-0 conference record. The Cardinals fall to 3-5 overall and 0-2 in the GLIAC. 


How It Happened
It was a slow start in the first due to the tight defense on both teams, but Sarah Newcomer found the first three points in the game behind the arc with Makaylee Kuhn's jumper following a minute later. The 'Cats were on a small 5-0 run before the Cardinals were able to score three triples in a row putting them up by four at 9-5 with less than three minutes remaining in the first quarter. As the clock ticked down to the second quarter, NMU was able to find two more points through free throws and hit the break down by four at 11-7.

Another two-pointer made by the Cardinals widened the margin, but back-to-back baskets by Sarah Newcomer and Braelyn Torres, along with a few free throws by Alyssa Nimz and Ana Rhude, put the Wildcats back in the lead. Triples by Braelyn Torres and Kayla Tierney had Northern up by six at 27-21 as they closed in on the first half. 

The lead for the 'Cats bled into the second half through an abundance of triples by Kuhn, Mackenzie Holzwart, and Newcomer with the largest margin yet between the teams being 19 points at 42-23. The Cardinals were able to get in a few solid free throws and layups throughout Northern's streak. Newcomer accumulated the most points in the third with a total of seven and Kuhn trailed behind with five.

In what seemed to be a fourth quarter more dedicated to fouls, the only point being made in the first two minutes of the fourth was for Saginaw Valley through a free throw. Minutes later, Kuhn was finally able to connect on a bucket before the Cardinals hit back with one of their own. With a stout defensive effort throughout the contest, the Wildcats found victory against the Cardinals with a score of 65-41, putting them at 6-3 overall and 2-0 in the GLIAC.


Postgame Notes

• Sarah Newcomer dropped a career-high 23 points to go along with seven rebounds
• Alyssa Nimz added eight points while Makaylee Kuhn chipped in six points and six assists. Kuhn and Ana Rhude each added three steals 
• In a game that saw several balanced stats between the sides, the Cardinals turned the ball over four more times than NMU (17-13). The 'Cats took advantage in points off turnovers with an impressive 26-4 margin

Up Next
The Wildcats will hit the road for non-conference play against Quincy University on Sunday, December 17 before returning home for another non-conference game against Northwood University on Tuesday, December 19.